Lumber cradle



" June 1o, 1930.

E. W. HUTCIHINGSl LUMBER CRADLE Filed 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m www.wMwwMMMMMHMMMMmw E11 r Patented June 1.o, 1930 l riazn `IEIIDWARI) W. HUTCHINGS, OF PERRY, FLORIDA Lnivmnn CRADLE` i l application aiearebruary efiaze. serial Naissance. l

rlhis invention has Iiorits object the provision of means` whereby the handling ot liunber willbe expedited. A particular object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and Ieflicient` device whereby boards or the like may be handled in a unit Vadapted for assembly in a pile for drying, or for transfer from a pile to a car orvice versa.` rlhe invention provides a support or carrier of such construction that a `plurality of boards of any length may be assembled ina unit and the unit transferred bodily to a pile quickly and without requiring severe etl'ort on the part of the laborers.` The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

ln the drawings: l Figure 1 is an elevation showing a unitol lumber as it is transferredfrom or loaded onto a car or truck tor transportation. Fig. 2 is an `enlarged top plan view of the cradle` removed from the hoisting mechanism. v l

Fig. 3 is an end view ot the same, and Fig. l is an enlarged detail section. In carrying out theinvention, there is provided a trame consisting of side bars 1 which are preferably channel bars, as shown most `clearly in Figs. 3 ancla, and `cross beams Q secured to and connecting the side bars intermediate the ends ofthe same, as will be under stood upon reference to Fig. 2. The `cross beams 2 are ittedto the side bars and are rigidly connectedktherewith at the tops of the "saine by gusset plates 3 which are riveted,

at 8 in Figs. 3 and l. Elliptical springs 9 are `secured upon the bar l adjacent the outer ends of the same andeXtend inwardly there- H lromwith their free ends bearing against which have their outer ends extending through the slotted "arms 5 and formed into hooks, such as shown the under sidesl ot the respective levers 7, and the springs are preferably secured in place by belts 10 passing through longitudinal slots 11 in the bar Ll so that the `tension of the springs may be adjusted as may be deemed advisable. ,Suspension chains 12 are engaged with the hooks 8 and depend therefrom and are provided at their lower extremities with st-irrups 13, as shown. Outwardlybeyond the cross beams 2, cross bars 14, constructed in all respects the same as the cross bar 1l, are

`moimted upon the side bars 1 but the cross bars let merely rest upon the side bars and may be slid along the same so that the suspension chains carried by the lovers mounted thereon will be set according to the length ot' 'the lumber which is to be handled. In order to maintain the end cross bars la in proper relation to the side bars and prevent lateral disi'ilacement thereot, guides 15 are provided at the ends ot said bars, said guides being conveniently in the form of right angular brackets or cleats secured firmly in any convenient manner to the extremitiesof the bars and at the base of th-e arcuate arms 5 thereof. rl`hese guides fit against the outer surfaces ot the side bars, as shown `clearly in Fig. 4l, so that theend bars will be prevented from lateral displacement and at the same time may be easily sli dalong the side bars.

`Secured to the outer sides ci the side bars 1 adjacent the gusset plates Siare brackets 16 which project above the side bars, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and have eyes or openings in theirupper extremities whereby they are y adapted to be engaged by. the lower ends of cables orchains 17 which are adapted to be` a i,

fitted to a hook 18 upon a hoisting cable 19 which is carried by a crane or other hoisting mechanism, indicated at 20, and which may be of any approved construction. l y

ln the use of the cradle, basebarsQl are engaged at their ends in the stirrups 13 and constitute foundations upon whichlumber to be dried may be piled, as indicated at 22 in Fig. u 1. The lumber is placed lengthwise across the baselbars 21and spacers 23 are interposed between the successive layers of the lumber to provide for a circulation of air in` theusualfmannen A unit consisting of the CII base bars 21, the boards 22 and the spacers 23 ima-y be prepared readyfor engagement with the cradle and the cradle frame then lowered onto the unit with the suspending chains 12 y over the ends of the base bars V21 and the crane manipulated to raise the loaded cradle and carry it to the place of deposit. rll`he springs 9 serve to cushion thestrain imposed on the chains l2 and the levers 7 `asthe hoistingvforce is applied to the lumber unit and also maintain the chains taut while the unit is `bei-ng handled. lt may sometimes be more convenient to engage the base bars 2l in the stirrups 13 before the lumber unit has been prepared and then to place the boards and spacers on the suspended basebars until a unit of the desired dimensions has been formed. the unit has been carried to the place` of deposit, for instance, over a truck or car onto which it is to be loaded, the crane is manipulated to lower the cradle until the base bars are resting upon the truck or car and the stirrups 13 are then simply shifted laterally to be released from the base bars. The cradle may then be returned to be loaded with a second unit and the process repeated indefinitely.

It will be readily noted that the use ofl my 'mproved cradle permits a unit of lumber of any desired dimensions within the capacity of the cradle to be formed and then transferred bodily to the drying yard or to a car, as may be necessary. In transferring the units to a drying yard, the units are super- Vposed one upon another when the base bars of each successive unit will constitute spacers to provide for circulation of air between the cessive units. As the piled units reach, a considerable height, successive units may be arrangedin staggered relation so as to guard against possible falling of the lumber and ,also facilitate the circuitous circulation of air through the piled lumber to attain the most efficient drying. The cross beams 2 and the gusset -plates 3 furnish ample supports for workmen who may ride with the several units toxtheplace where they are to be deposited Vin orderthat the release of the stirrups 13 and the chains 12 may be very quickly effected, but in order to lprovide ample support for such riders,fa platform may, if desired, be built upon the sidebars -1 between the cross bars, as will be understood. The device is Every simple Vin construction and the arrangenentof its parts and has been found highly efficient in use.

i. Having thus described the invention, I

claim: Y

l. A lumber-'cradle comprising a frame, hoisting means connected with the frame, a

When

plurality of pairs of suspending levers yieldably mounted transversely upon the frame and projecting beyondrthe sides thereof, and suspension elements engaged with and depending from the free ends of said levers, the lower ends of said suspension members being provided with means to support a load and theouter pairs of levers being adjustable toward or from the ends of the frame. Y

2. A lumber cradle comprising a frame, a crossibar.securedupon` said frame at the center thereof, other cross bars slidably mounted on "the end portions of the frame, means for preventing lateral displacement of the last-mentioned bars, 4and lumber-suspending elementscarried by all the bars.

3. A lumber .cradle comprising a frame, cross bars mounted on the frameV and Yprovided at their ends with upstanding vertically slotted arms, suspension levers pivoted upon the respective bars and having their outerends extending through the slotted arms, cables engaged with and depending from the ends of the levers, yieldable means for holding kthe levers raised, and stirrups kcarried by the lower ends ofthe suspension elements.

4. A lumber cradle comprising a frame, suspension elements mounted on fthe frame and yieldably held in raised position,`brackets secured to the sides of the frame, and hoisting elements engaged 'with said brackets.

5. A lumber cradle comprising a frame, hoisting devices connectedto the frame,cross bars mounted on the fra-me, levers pivotedon the respective cross bars to oscillate in vertical planes transverseto the frame, springs secured on the cross bars and bearing against the under sides of the respective levers, and suspending devices carried by the-free ends of the levers.

6. A lumber cradle comprising a frame,

hoisting devices connected to the frame, cross bars, .andsuspending devices carried by the free endsof the levers.

In testimony whereof Iafix my signature. EDWARD W. HUTCHINGS [n s] 

